Nothing but the Truth

by Avi

  MRS. MALLOY: Yams. Sweet yams.

  MR. MALLOY: Thanks. They’re delicious. Now where is he going?

  MRS. MALLOY: He was trying to talk, and you weren’t listening to him. Ben, you have to be more supportive!

  MR. MALLOY: What do you mean?

  MRS. MALLOY: Maybe that’s why he isn’t running. Maybe he’s sending a message.

  MR. MALLOY: Like what?

  MRS. MALLOY: That he needs your support on something that isn’t track. That’s him.

  MR. MALLOY: Think so?

  MRS. MALLOY: I don’t know. Just trying to understand.

  MR. MALLOY: My day wasn’t so great either.

  MRS. MALLOY: Oh?

  MR. MALLOY: Remember that bid we put in on that Colfax job? …

  8:32 P.M.

  From a Letter Written by Margaret Narwin to Her Sister, Anita Wigham

  … I do think it’s quite the best thing Barbara Pym ever wrote. It’s one of those books about which—even as I neared the end—I said to myself, “I can’t wait to read this again.”

  In any case, it was so soothing to come home to that quiet, thoughtful, civilized British world. Oh, Anita, I long to return to England someday, and those wonderful, leisurely late-afternoon cream teas….

  The truth is, I needed a soothing. Today was “Spring Changeover Day,” when our students, after six months of struggling to learn exactly where to go, are suddenly tossed pell-mell here, there, anywhere, as their schedules and homeroom assignments shift because of spring recreational schedules. Of course, bedlam is always the result, with attendant bad feeling. It’s just at those moments that students rear up and challenge your authority. One has to be vigilant and firm. As well as consistent and fair. That’s the key with students these days. And sometimes I haven’t the stamina for it. Ah, well …

  Thank you for passing on the kind words of Mr. Chevers. Of course I remember him….

  9:05 P.M.

  From the Diary of Philip Malloy

  Today was rotten. Nothing was right. I felt like punching Narwin in the face. It all just stinks.

  9:20 P.M.

  Phone Conversation between Allison Doresett and Janet Barsky

  ALLISON DORESETT: Oh, on the bus coming home, you know, I was going to sit with Phil Malloy.

  JANET BARSKY: You like him, don’t you?

  ALLISON DORESETT: He’s kind of cute. And usually really funny. But he looked upset today. Angry.

  JANET BARSKY: How come?

  ALLISON DORESETT: I don’t know. He was that way in class too. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t. Anyway, I didn’t sit with him.

  JANET BARSKY: Who’d you sit with?

  ALLISON DORESETT: Todd Becker.

  JANET BARSKY: Todd! Too cool! He’s the cutest guy!

  ALLISON DORESETT: I know…. And he always makes me laugh.

  10:45 P.M.

  Conversation between Philip Malloy and His Father

  MR. MALLOY: Phil? You up? Can I speak to you?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Oh, sure. Just reading.

  MR. MALLOY: What’re you reading?

  PHILIP MALLOY: The Outsiders.

  MR. MALLOY: Still?

  PHILIP MALLOY: It’s pretty long.

  MR. MALLOY: Can I sit down?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Sure.

  MR. MALLOY: Now, look, this business about, you know, what you were saying at dinner, not being allowed to sing the national anthem …

  PHILIP MALLOY: I was humming.

  MR. MALLOY: Whatever. Now, your mother and I talked about this. I mean, I want you to understand—whatever it is—we’re on your side.

  PHILIP MALLOY: I didn’t think you were interested.

  MR. MALLOY: Of course I’m interested. I’m always cheering on your side.

  PHILIP MALLOY: It’s just that the teacher—

  MR. MALLOY: No, wait. Straight up. I think she’s wrong. No two ways about it. You’re right to be bugged. She shouldn’t put you down like that. You know, I’m—your mother and I—we’re no great, well, you know, no big patriots. I don’t think we even own a flag. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love our country. Believe me. We just don’t make a big thing about it. It’s not that kind of showy thing with us. But not being allowed to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” … Well, that’s like, sort of, not being allowed to, you know, pray. A personal thing. And the personal thing, in America … the point is, it doesn’t seem right. And we just want you to know we’re with you. It’s important to us that you know that.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Thanks.

  MR. MALLOY: Your mother says to be more supportive. Well, sure. I mean, I’ll stand with you. You never have to worry about that.

  PHILIP MALLOY: You’re not mad?

  MR. MALLOY: Of course not. I have half a mind to talk to Ted.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Why?

  MR. MALLOY: He’s running for school board. Election soon. I mean, Ted Griffen is our neighbor. That can mean something.

  PHILIP MALLOY: He was always chasing me off his lawn.

  MR. MALLOY: Yeah. But you were a kid then. Phil, let me tell you something. One thing I’ve learned is this: you really have to stick up for your rights. We’ll stand with you. Don’t worry. See you at breakfast.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Right.

  MR. MALLOY: Night, kid.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Night.

  MR. MALLOY: Remember. You stick up for your rights. I’ll be there.

  8:02 A.M.

  Discussion in Margaret Narwin’s Homeroom Class

  MISS NARWIN: Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Your assigned seats. I need to take attendance.

  STUDENT: Miss Narwin.

  MISS NARWIN: Yes?

  STUDENT: Peggy Lord is sick.

  MISS NARWIN: Thank you.

  INTERCOM VOICE OF DR. GERTRUDE DOANE, HARRISON HIGH PRINCIPAL: Good morning to all students, faculty, and staff. Today is Thursday, March 29. Today will be a Schedule A day.

  Today in history: in the year 1790 our tenth president, John Tyler, was born. In 1918 singer Pearl Bailey was born. And today in 1954 Karen Ann Quinlan was born.

  Please all rise and stand at respectful, silent attention for the playing of our national anthem.

  Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light …

  MISS NARWIN: Is that someone humming?

  What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,

  Whose broad stripes and bright stars …

  MISS NARWIN: Philip, is that you again?

  … through the perilous fight,

  O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? …

  MISS NARWIN: Philip, I spoke to you yesterday about this.

  And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air …

  MISS NARWIN: This is a time for listening. Now, please, stop singing.

  Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there….

  MISS NARWIN: Philip, stop this insolence!

  Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

  O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

  MISS NARWIN: Philip, leave this room instantly. Report to Dr. Palleni’s office. Now!

  8:35 A.M.

  Conversation between Philip Malloy and Dr. Joseph Palleni, Assistant Principal, Harrison High

  DR. PALLENI: Okay, Philip, come on in. Sit yourself down. Who’s your homeroom teacher?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Miss Narwin.

  DR. PALLENI: Okay. Now, what seems to be the problem?

  PHILIP MALLOY: I don’t know.

  DR. PALLENI: Come on, Phil. Sit up straight. We don’t whip people here. Now, you must have some idea. She asked you to leave the class. What happened?

  PHILIP MALLOY: She doesn’t like me.

  DR. PALLENI: Let’s try to be more specific, Philip. I want to hear your side of the problem. I’ll check with her. Then, let’s see if we can work something out. We’re into solving problems, not making them. Okay. Now, what happened?

&n
bsp; PHILIP MALLOY: She wouldn’t let me sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  DR. PALLENI: What?

  PHILIP MALLOY: She won’t let me sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  DR. PALLENI: I don’t understand.

  PHILIP MALLOY: It’s just a thing I like to do. Sing along when the song is played.

  DR. PALLENI: “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah. I just like to do it. In Mr. Lunser’s—

  DR. PALLENI: You mean—when the morning tape plays … ?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.

  DR. PALLENI: And you were singing?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Uh-huh.

  DR. PALLENI: What, loudly? Disrespectfully? Were you making fun?

  PHILIP MALLOY: No. Not at all. Just, you know, sort of to myself. Almost humming. Really. I always do.

  DR. PALLENI: There’s a rule about being quiet at that time.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah, well, it’s sort of a … patriotic thing with me. But the whole thing is, she always has it in for me.

  DR. PALLENI: Who?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Narwin. So, she kicked me out.

  DR. PALLENI: This singing you were doing … singing out loud. Did Miss Narwin ask you to stop?

  PHILIP MALLOY: I mean, I wasn’t being loud or anything like that.

  DR. PALLENI: And did you? Stop, I mean.

  PHILIP MALLOY: No, I told you. I was singing.

  DR. PALLENI: But, when she—Miss Narwin—asked you, did you stop?

  PHILIP MALLOY: It was just to myself. Not loud or anything, and—

  DR. PALLENI: Okay, okay, Phil. I think I understand now. No problem. Where is that thing? … Here it is. This is a memo from Dr. Doane. Look, see what it says. Go on, read it. What does it say? Silent. Okay? You hear it every day. Right? But you were singing. Right? No, let me finish. Miss Narwin asked you to stop. You didn’t. You continued to sing. You were disobedient. So she asked you to leave.

  PHILIP MALLOY: How can you ask someone not to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

  DR. PALLENI: It’s the rule.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Is a memo a rule?

  DR. PALLENI: Philip …

  PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah, but …

  DR. PALLENI: Philip, look. I’ve got more important things to do with my time than argue with you about following simple, basic rules. I’ve got serious infractions. I’ve got drugs. I’ve got—

  PHILIP MALLOY: Put me in another homeroom.

  DR. PALLENI: What?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Put me in another homeroom. And another English class.

  DR. PALLENI: What’s English have to do with this? Philip, I asked you something.

  PHILIP MALLOY: She and I don’t get along.

  DR. PALLENI: Look, Phil, you are here to get an education. To get along you have to go along. Let’s not make a big deal over this, okay, Phil? Now, you’ve given me your side of the story. I’ll check with Miss Narwin, but it seems pretty clear to me…. You said yourself, you broke a rule—

  PHILIP MALLOY: If you could just change …

  DR. PALLENI: Here’s a note that says I spoke to you. Scoot. Get along with your day. Make it a good one.

  PHILIP MALLOY: But …

  DR. PALLENI: Hey, Phil, be cool. It’s a good day. I heard you’re a runner. It’s a great day for running. Go join the track team. They could use you. Okay? Now, take it easy. See you around. Bye. Have a nice day.

  1:35 P.M.

  Conversation between Mr. Malloy and His Boss, Mr. Dexter

  MR. DEXTER: Look, Ben, it was just a botched job, that’s all. There are no two ways around it.

  MR. MALLOY: Mr. Dexter, what I’m simply trying to explain is that I wasn’t given all the information that would allow me—

  MR. DEXTER: I don’t want to hear excuses, Ben. I want someone around here to accept responsibility. Is that you or not?

  MR. MALLOY: Yes, sir.

  MR. DEXTER: It goes with your position. Responsibility. Just don’t let it happen again. We lost a lot of money on this one. We can’t afford it. No one should know that better than you.

  MR. MALLOY: Yes, sir.

  MR. DEXTER: Okay. That’s all that needs to be said. It’s done. We’ll work around it.

  MR. MALLOY: Yes, sir.

  MR. DEXTER: Regular sales-reps meeting tomorrow morning. I don’t intend to bring this up. But it will be on my mind. We can’t afford another screwup.

  MR. MALLOY: Yes, sir.

  3:35 P.M.

  Conversation between Margaret Narwin and Dr. Gertrude Doane, Principal, Harrison High

  DR. DOANE: Come in, Peg. Come in.

  MISS NARWIN: Thank you.

  DR. DOANE: Do sit down. Would you like some coffee?

  MISS NARWIN: No, thank you.

  DR. DOANE: Peg, ever since you sent me that note about funds for that summer teaching workshop, I’ve been meaning to speak to you.

  MISS NARWIN: You’re very busy.

  DR. DOANE: Busy? Good grief. Superintendent Seymour has us writing position papers, speaking to chamber of commerce groups … the Rotary club. The upcoming budget vote. He’s very nervous about it. And the board election. But that’s something else. You don’t want to hear about that. Many is the time I wish I were back in the classroom. Though, actually, it was while doing some statistics for this budget vote business that I was able to pull something together that’s interesting.

  MISS NARWIN: Yes?

  DR. DOANE: You know how, in your memo, you spoke of going to that workshop—that some of the instructors were—what?—“master teachers.”

  MISS NARWIN: Yes.

  DR. DOANE: Wish we had that program here. The point is, Peg, you are the one who should be a master teacher.

  MISS NARWIN: Thank you, but …

  DR. DOANE: I mean, what I came up with is this…. There is a direct statistical tie-in—that is, those students who have taken an English class with you, Peg, score higher on the Iowa tests, the Stanfords, and the SAT verbals.

  MISS NARWIN: Is that right?

  DR. DOANE: No question. I could show you the figures.

  MISS NARWIN: Well, that’s nice to know.

  DR. DOANE: I felt so bad about not being able to give you that funding. But, Peg, if the truth be known … you don’t need it. You—the facts are there for all to see—you are our best English teacher. I didn’t have to be told that. But there’s the truth for the rest of the world to see.

  MISS NARWIN: Thank you, Gert. I really appreciate that. I really do.

  6:10 P.M.

  Conversation between Philip Malloy’s Parents

  MRS. MALLOY: Hi, honey.

  MR. MALLOY: ’Lo.

  MRS. MALLOY: What’s the matter? Something wrong?

  MR. MALLOY: Got chewed out by Dexter.

  MRS. MALLOY: What for?

  MR. MALLOY: Some job estimate that went wrong. Wasn’t even anything I did.

  MRS. MALLOY: I hope you stood up for yourself.

  MR. MALLOY: Are you kidding?

  MRS. MALLOY: But, honey, if you were right …

  MR. MALLOY: And get myself in his bad books.

  MRS. MALLOY: You wouldn’t get yourself—

  MR. MALLOY: Susan, please don’t bug me about it. I know when to keep my mouth shut.

  MRS. MALLOY: But—

  MR. MALLOY: You don’t understand. I’m sorry I mentioned it. Look, I’m just not in a position of power there. Okay? Just forget it, okay? Just forget it. It’s no big thing.

  MRS. MALLOY: Sorry I asked.

  7:10 P.M.

  Discussion between Philip Malloy and His Parents During Dinner

  PHILIP MALLOY: It happened again.

  MRS. MALLOY: What happened?

  PHILIP MALLOY: In school. This morning. I was singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The teacher kicked me out.

  MR. MALLOY: You kidding?

  PHILIP MALLOY: No, it’s true.

  MRS. MALLOY: Sent you out of the classroom?

  PHILIP MALLOY: To the assistant p
rincipal’s office.

  MR. MALLOY: I hope you stood up for yourself.

  PHILIP MALLOY: I spoke to Palleni.

  MR. MALLOY: Who?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Assistant principal.

  MR. MALLOY: What did he say?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Sided with Narwin.

  MR. MALLOY: Phil, listen to me. Don’t give in to that crap. Don’t let them push you around. Singing the … There must be some mistake.

  PHILIP MALLOY: That’s the way she is.

  MR. MALLOY: You have to stick up for yourself. That’s all there is to it. Phil, do what you feel is right. We’ll stand behind you.

  MRS. MALLOY: It’s so hard to believe.

  PHILIP MALLOY: She’s really nuts.

  MR. MALLOY: Must be.

  9:45 P.M.

  From a Letter Written by Margaret Narwin to Her Sister, Anita Wigham

  … So you see, Anita, it was gratifying to hear Gertrude talk this way to me, exactly the kind of support teachers need. Certainly it’s what I need at this time. I can’t tell you how much. It bucks me up.

  Many teachers have almost nothing good to say about their administrators, complaining that they fail to support them, much less grasp the complexities of the classroom situation, or that they show only slight concern about their problems. My principal is different.

  I’m lucky….

  11:05 P.M.

  From the Diary of Philip Malloy

  Lots of kids bad-mouth their parents, say they never stick up for them or understand them. Or pay any attention to them. Stuff like that. My parents are different.

  I’m lucky.

  8:05 A.M.

  Discussion in Margaret Narwin’s Homeroom Class

  INTERCOM VOICE OF DR. GERTRUDE DOANE, HARRISON HIGH PRINCIPAL: Good morning to all students, faculty, and staff. Today is Friday, March 30. Today will be a Schedule B day.